Shelf attachment for vending machines



Dec. 12, 1961 R. E. SCHRAMM SHELF ATTACHMENT FOR VENDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1958 B hoa 000 EGG ai m w INVENTOR.

RALPH E. SCHRAMM Dec. 12, 1961 E. SCHRAMM SHELF ATTACHMENT FOR VENDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1958 INVENTOR. RALPH E. SCHRAMM United States Patent 3,012,653 SHELF ATTACHMENT FOR VENDING MACHINES Ralph E. Schramm, 5331 S. Washington St., Littleton, Colo. Filed Dec. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 780,414 2 Claims. (Cl. 198-158) The present invention relates to an attachment for vending machines and, more particularly, to a shelf attachrnent adapted to increase the versatility and efiiciency of vending machines.

Previously many different types of vending machines have been developed and manufactured in order to facilitate the automatic dispensing of various types of commodities. The present invention is intended to increase the utility of presently existing vending machines through provision of a shelf attachment Which will adapt a vending machine initially intended for the dispensing of packaged products for the efficient holding and dispensing of loose or bulk items. While useful in connection with other types of vending machines, the present invention is especially adaptable to use with a type of vending machine manufactured and sold by The Vendo Company, 7400 East 12th St, Kansas City 26, Mo.

When used in connection with this machine and with others, it is a major objective of this invention to provide a shelf attachment which may be affixed to the existing shelf of the apparatus so that bulk items such as oranges, apples and the like may be dispensed without the necessity for enclosing such items within a supporting cup.

In satisfaction of the major objective, it is a further object of this invention to provide a folding type shelf attachment which may be engaged with the permanent shelf of the vending machine to extend outwardly therefrom to receive and hold loose objects until such objects are dispensed.

A further object of the invention is to be satisfied through provision of a folding type shelf which will course through the return cycle of the vending machine without interference after the object carried by the shelf has been dispensed.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the appended description and drawings, in which- FIG. 1 is an elevation showing a type of vending machine which may effectively utilize the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing in partial section showing a first embodiment of this invention as attached to a shelf unit of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1,

PEG. 3 is a perspective drawing in partial section of a separate embodiment of this invention, and

FIG. 4 is an elevation in partial section showing the cycle of operation for a vending machine utilizing a shelf attachment made in accordance with this invention.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides an attachment which may be readily clipped or aifixed to a shelf segment of a vending machine so that the vending machine may hold and dispense loose and unpackaged items. A major feature of this invention is a shelf made up of segments which offer mutual support each to each to hold the shelf outwardly when in the item receiving and carrying positions. In order to conserve space and to facilitate operation Without modification of existing types of vending machines, the shelf segments are adapted 3,012,653 Pafented Dec. 12, 1961 to fold on themselves during the return cycle so they may be carried in depending position.

The detailed features of separate embodiments of the present invention and of the interworking of such embodiments with a conventional type vending machine are more fully shown and described in the accompanying figures.

In FIG. 1 it will be noted that the vending machine 11, which is shown with the door 12 open to expose the storage compartment 13, provides a plurality of dispenser racks 14. These racks are removable from the machine for servicing, and the items that are to be dispensed are disposed on the racks in position one behind the other so that a considerable number of items may be held for later discharge. Machines of this design are presently used to dispense milk and similar drinks that are packaged in small cardboard containers 16 similar to those represented.

These packaged items are held in position on the racks by a small shelf segment which extends outwardly from the rack to hold a bottom corner 17 of the carton. The top corner of the carton 18 abuts against a slide piece 20, and accordingly the entire carton 16 is kept from falling out of the rack by such arrangement.

Racks of the foregoing type made by The Vendo Company are in widespread use at the present time. These units are efiicient and compact, and they satisfactorily dispense the packaged cartons for which they are primarily designed. In recent years some operators of vending machines have been interested in providing an increased variety of items to be dispensed from the same Fruits in season are especially desirable vendmachine. ing machine items, but the cost of packaging such items in a carton or other container so that they could be held in the vending machine has prevented many operators from presenting these desirable food products to the public. 1

As set forth in the objectives, it is a purpose of this invention to provide an attachment for vending machines which will permit the dispensing of fruits and similar items without the necessity of providing cartons and containers therefor,

A first embodiment of the invention which satisfies the purposes of this invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Here a wire type shelf attachment 21 is provided which may be readily engaged with a shelf member 22 provided by the vending machine. The shelf bracket 22 includes an upright back support structure 23 and an outwardly extending platform or shelf extension 24. These elements are held and supported by flanges 26 which extend backwardly to engage the pins 27 of the chain link drive mechanism. To secure the shelf attachment 21 to the shelf bracket 22, the free end 28 of a U-shaped hook 29 is engaged behind the upright back support structure 23 and is held in such position through engagement of the cross member 31 with the top surface of the shelf txtension 24.

As shown, the U-shaped member 29 is connected to such cross member 31 by a return segment 32. When properly attached, the cross member 31 and the shelf extension 24 provide a point of engagement and support for a plurality of shelf segments 33, 34 and 35. Each of these shelf segments are of substantially U-shaped construction having an outer cross member 31a, 31b and 31c, respectively, and rearwardly extending arms 36, 37

and 38. The free ends of the arms 37 and 38 and, if desirable, of the arm 36 are coiled about the next inboard cross member 31 to provide a pivot structure 39 and a stop extension 41. When properly positioned, the stop extension 41 engages a flange 42 formed by the arms 36, 37 and 38 or other portion of the shelf segment structure. Accordingly, the successive shelf segments will be held in outwardly extended position as the conveyor moves downwardly toward its commodity discharging position.

After the conveyor has reached the bottom of its cycle and after the commodities received on the shelf attachment 21 have been discharged, the supporting shelf mem her will start its return cycle of upward movement. Thereafter the effects of gravity will cause the shelf attachment to be folded into a downwardly depending position. If a drive pulley is provided, the multiple segments will permit the shelf attachment 22 to move through narrowly confined spaces by bending about such obstruction.

The cyclic operation of the conveyor mechanism and the corresponding adaptive positioning of the shelf attachment 21 is shown in FIG. 4. Here it will be seen that the shelf brackets 22 are pivotally secured to spaced pins 27 of the conveyor chain link belt 44. Accordingly, as the link belt 34 moves downwardly the successive shelf attachments 21 will be moved toward the discharge position shown at the bottom of the conveyor travel. At this point the commodity, such as an apple 46, received on the shelf attachment 21 will be dumped into the discharge chute 47, and the customer will receive the commodity from the pan 48, as shown in FIG. 1.

In the type of machine made by The Vendo Company two conveyor belts 44 are positioned to move in a closed path downwardly along the outside of the dispenser racks 14 and upwardly through a central open portion of such racks. During the period of upward movement or return cycle, the conveyor belts are in close relation to each other. To facilitate such compact arrangement the shelf brackets 22 are cooperatively positioned on each of the conveyor belts 44 so as not to interfere with each other during the return cycle. Necessarily, any shelf attachment that is added or atfixed to the shelf brackets 22 must likewise be capable of movement without interference or obstruction of any of the elements of the conveyor drive apparatus or shelf supports.

This desired result is obtained in this first embodiment of the invention through provision of the plurality of shelf segments 33, 34 and 35 which are adapted to hang downwardly and to fold during the return cycle. A folding action is especially beneficial, since a drive sprocket must be provided at either the top or bottom of the racks 14 to move the conveyor belt 44 along its desired path. As the separate links 51 of the conveyor belt 44 move about the drive sprocket (not shown), the shelf attachments 21 will likewise be moved through the narrowly confined space.

This result is possible in accordance with the present invention through provision of a plurality of shelf segments 33, 34 and 35 which have a pivoting action similar to that of the links 51 of the conveyor belt 44. With this arrangement it has been found that the dis pensing action of the machine may be continued without interruption due to jamming of the apparatus. Accordingly bulk or loose commodities may be dispensed from the same machine which dispenses packaged cartons of milk and the like.

In the use of this embodiment of the invention together with machines made by The Vendo Company, it has been found desirable to make one slight modification of the shelf brackets 22. This involves cutting ofi a bottom corner 52 of the flanges 26. This chamfering cut keeps the outer link 35 of one set of shelf attachments 21 from hooking the flanges 26 of the other conveyor.

A second embo ime t of thi invention is shown in FIG. 3 in which the shelf bracket 22 having the upright back support structure 23 and the outwardly extending shelf extension 24 provides support for a shelf attachment 21s which may be formed of plastic or other similar material. In this form of the invention an attaching segment 53 is provided which has slide channels 54 at each end adapted to slide over, receive and hold the shelf extension 24. When the attaching segment 53 is engaged with the shelf extension 24, adequate support is provided for pivots 57 through use of flanges 58 so that the successive intermediate and outer segments 54 and 55 may be supported by the attaching segment 53 and the shelf extension 24.

As in the previous embodiment, stop extensions 41s are provided to engage the bottom surface of the next inboard segment when the shelf attachment 21s is in the outwardly extended position. Further, as in the previous embodiment, the shelf attachment will hang in depending position on the return cycle, and the segments will be separately movable to course around narrowly confined obstructions.

While separate embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that the invention is adaptable to various modifications and changes. All such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the hereunto appended claims are deemed to be a part of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus which utilizes a vertically disposed endless conveyor mechanism to move bulk items downwardly toward a point of discharge and inclusive of pulley drive members for said conveyor and space confining structural units which define an item receiving chute of size corresponding to said item and a narrowly confined conveyor return passage, a shelf attachment for said conveyor adapted to receive, hold and dispense said items comprising a plurality of shelf segments inclusive of a forwardly extending portion and a stop extension disposed on opposite sides of a pivot attaching point, pivot means for securing said segments together with the stop extension of one segment disposed to engage the forwardly extending portion of the next adjacent shelf segment to provide a structurally flexible support shelf having differential flexural characteristics adapted to resist forces applied in the direction of shelf and conveyor travel while permitting flexure about said pivots when force is applied in an opposite direction, means for attaching said support shelf to said conveyor mechanism for movement therewith along a pathway whereby gravitational force acting on items on said support shelf will be resisted by said support shelf as the conveyor, support shelf and items thereon are moved toward a point of discharge, and whereby gravitational and movement resisting forces acting on said support shelf during the return travel of said conveyor will cause fiexure of the multiple segments of said support shelf to permit passage of said conveyor and support shelf over the said pulleys and through the narrowly confined return passage.

2. In vending machine apparatus which utilizes a vertic-ally disposed endless link belt conveyor mechanism to move bulk items downwardly toward a point of discharge and inclusive of pulley drive members for said conveyor and space confining structural units which define an item receiving chute of size corresponding to said item and a narrowly confined conveyor return passage, a shelf attachment for said conveyor adapted to receive, hold and dispense said items comprising a plurality of formed wire shelf segments of substantially U shape inclusive of an outwardly disposed cross member and rearwardly extending arms, a stop extension provided on said arms disposed away from said outer cross member, pivot means at said arms joining said segments each to each at the said pivot whereby the said stop extension engages the next adjacent shelf segment to provide a structurally flexible item support shelf having differential flexural characteristics adapted to resist forces applied in the direction of shelf and conveyor travel while permitting fiexure about said pivots when force is applied in an opposite direction, means for attaching said support shelf to said conveyor mechanism for movement 5 of said support shelf to permit passage of said conveyor and support shelf over the said pulleys and through the narrowly confined return passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 791,601 Andrus June 6, 1905 800,660 Leidgen Oct. 3, 1905 10 1,212,662 Meyers Ian. 16, 1917 1,227,182 Neal May 22, 1917 

